Stapling machine



June 16, 1925.

1,541,956 R. J HOLZHJAUSEN STAPLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 14 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented June 16, 1925.

- UNITED STATES PATENT orFic RICHARD JACOB HOLZHAUSEN, OF WESTPOR-T, CONNECTICUT, A'SSIGNOR TO THE COMPO MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF WESTPOB-T, CONNECTICUT, CORPORA- TION OF NEW YORK.

STAPLING MACHINE.

Application filed February 14, 1921.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, R-IOHARD JACOB Horiz- HAUSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vestport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Stapling Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip tion of the invention, such as will enable 0 others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in stapling machines and more particularly to those of the type employing a staple strip which is advanced in a step by step manner beneath a staple cutting and driving plunger. Devices of this character have been used with more or less success for some time, but the principal difiiculty encountered has been that the plunger has a tendency to bend the staples inwardly toward the guiding track for the staple strip, often causing the staples to jam in the machine so that difiiculty is encountered to again place the device in condition for operation. Furthermore, the prongs of the staples are often spread to such an amount as to prevent proper driving and clinching this being another cause of considerable trouble.

The principal aim of my invention is to provide novel means for overcoming the difficulties above pointed out, consisting briefly of means for holding each staple against bending while it is being cut from the staple strip, and means for operating this staple holding means, such operating means serving preferably to connect the holding means yieldably with the plunger so that operation of this plunger to cut'and drive a staple will first move thestaple holding means to effective position and then cut the staple from the staple strip and drive the same. This same staple holding means serves to straighten the staples if the prongs thereof have spread.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved form of feeding mechanism for the staple strip, such mechanism being so constructed that it does not exert any moving action whatever on the staple strip until the driving operation of the preceeding staple has been entirely completed Serial No. 444,953.

and the plunger again returned substantially to its initial position.

WVith the foregoing and minor objects in view, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawings.

Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a side elevation and an end view of a stapling machine constructed in accordance with my in vention.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view with parts in elevation.

Figure t is a vertical transverse sectional view as indicated by line 44 of Fig. 3.

Figures 5 and 6 are duplicates of Fig. 4 with the exception that they show different positions of parts.

Figure 7 is a horizontal'sectional view as designated by line 77 of Fig. 8.

Figure 8 is a perspective View of the staple cutting and driving plunger and the staple holding device, in juxtaposition.

-Figure 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing the plunger and staple holding device in operative relation with each other.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the feed dog for the staple strip.

Figure 11 is a perspective showing the holding dog which prevents retrograde movement of the staple strip.

' In the drawings above briefly described, the numeral 1 designates an appropriate base preferably supported on yieldable feet 2, said base carrying the usual staple clinchinganvil 3 at one end while its other end carries lugs or the like L to which I have pivoted the staple guiding track 5 so that it may be swung upwardly to place papers on the anvil 3 to permit stapling of such papers. The track .5 is secured in the hollow horizontal portion 6 of a suitable stand or body 7 and as seen clearly in Fig. 3, said track terminates at the inner side of a ver tical guideway 8 which is formedina vertical portion 9 of the stand or the like 7. A vertical plunger 10 is slidable in the guideway, being provided on its upperend with a suitable hand-piece 11 against which. a spring 12 preferably acts for normally shifting the plunger upwardly to the position disclosed in Fig. 8. W hen this plunger is forced downwardly against the tension of the spring 12 however, it cuts a staple from the staple strip 13 which rests normally on the track 5 as shown, and drives the staple.

Depression of the plunger also sets a feed mechanism hereinafter described; so that when said plunger returns to its raised posi tion, said feedmechanisin may come into play to feed the strip 13 forwardly to position another staple for use.

The construction and arrangement so far briefly described, is substantially the same as in the stapling machines which have been heretofore used, but in such machines it has been found that before the plunger 10 will cut a staple from the strip 13, it bends such staple inwardly toward the free end of the track 5 and so distorts the same as to prevent the plunger from driving the'staple through the papers or the like resting on the anvil This often causes jamming of the machine, preventing further operation until theditliculty is overcome. To prevent this occurrence, and to also act to straighten the prongs of any staple which may have been spread, I provide novel means for movement into engagement with the staple to hold the same while it is being cut and driven, This means preferably comprises a slide plate 1 1 which may well be of the shape shown clearly in Figs. 8 and 9, said plate being in sliding contact with the inner side of the plunger 1-0 and with the rear plunger guiding portion of the guideway 8. The lower end of plate 1 1 is equipped with staple holding and straightening means here shown in the form of angularly related flanges 15 which are adapted to back-up the staple before it is cut from the strip '13, said flanges serving not only to fill the space between the staple prongs and the rear guiding walls of the guid-eway 8, but acting to fill any existing space between said prongs and the opposed sides of said guideway. It thus follows that the staple cannot bend or angle in any manner when the plunger 10 descends, with the result that said staple is sharply cut from the strip 13 and correctly driven through the papers or the like, being clinched by the anvil In obtaining a proper understanding of this operation, reference may be had to Figs. 3, l, 5 and '6. Figs. 3 and 1 show the normal relation of parts with the lower end-s of the flanges 15 spaced slightly above the staple strip 13; Fig. 5 shows the manner in which the flanges 15 back-up the staple when the plunger 10 is forced downwardly sufficiently to sever said staple from the strip 13.; and Fig. 6 illustrates the completely clinched staple showing that the flanges 15 still remain in engagement with said staple until the clinching operation is completed. Viflien this takes place however, the plunger 10 and the slide plate 14 bodily return until a cross bar or other adequate stop 16 of said slide plate, strikes a stop 17 carried by the upper end of the stand 7. When this takes place however (see Fig. 3), the upward movement of the slide plate 1 1 is arrested but the spring 12 completely returns the plunger to its uppermost position, the upward movement of said plunger being by preference limited by contact of a cam 18 with the cross bar 16 (see Fig. The cam 18 is instrumental in operating the feed mechanism, as will be hereinafter set forth.

While any adequate means could be em ployed for operating the slide plate or the like 14, I prefer to provide the upper end of said plate with a pair of resilient arms 19' whose upper ends curve inwardly and then turn outwardly rather abruptly as shown at 20 for yieldable engagement with shoulders 21, with which the plunger 10 is provided. Normally, the arms 19 are in engagement with the shoulders 21 as seen for instance in Fig. 4-, the flanges 15 being then raised above the staple strip 13. hen the plunger is forced downwardly, however, the co-action of the arms 19 and the shoulders 21 causes the slide plate 14: to move downwardly into engagement with the staple as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. Then, further downward movement of the plunger to drive and clinch the staple causes the arms 19 to release from the shoulders 21 as will be clear by reference to 6. l Vhen the plunger is now released, the spring 12 returns the slide plate 1 1 and the plunger bodily, until the cross bar or the like 16 strikes the stop 17. When this takes place, upward movement of the plate 14; is arrested but spring 12 continues to force the plunger 10 upwardly until cam 18 strikes the aforesaid cross bar 16. This causes reengagement of the arms 19 with the shoulders 21 so that the device is in readiness for operation another time. By employing the construction shown and nescribed or an equivalent construction, jamming of staples in the machine is absolutely prevented, since these staples are effectively backed up while they are being cut from the staple strip 13,, as well as while they are being driven into the paper. Furthermore, if the prongs of the staples have spread to any extent whatsoever, they will be straightened when the flanges 15 are forced into engagement therewith.

It is to be understood that any appropriate feeding mechanism for the staple strip 13 could be employed in connection with the features of construction above described. I prefer however to use the arrangement shown most clearly ini Figs. e, 7,, 10 and 11. In these figures, the numeral 22 designates a horizoi'itally movable pin mounted in a suitable guide opening in the vertical part 9 of the stand 7, the inner end of said pin passing through an internal socket 23 in said part, and being provided with a head 24: in the downward path of the cam 18, a coil spring 25 being positioned in the aforesaid socket 23 to normally move the head 24 and pin 22 to the position shown in Fig. 3. The pin 22 is longitudinally split at its outer end as indicated at 26 and within this split, a feed dog 27 is pivoted between its ends, the lower end of said dog being arched as shown at 28 for proper engagement with the individual staples of the strip 13, while the spring 29 is interposed between the upper end oil said dog and the pin 22 for the purpose of holding said dog in proper engagement with the staple strip.

hen the plunger 10 descends, cutting and driving one staple, the cam 18 strikes the head 24 and forces the pin 22 outwardly against the tension of the spring 25, thereby moving the dog 27 rearwardly into engagement with another staple. The moment the plunger returns to raised position, spring 25 forces the pin 22 again inwardly so that dog 27 feeds the staple strip 13 transversely of the guideway 8 and positions another staple in readiness to be cut and driven by the plunger. I

For the purpose of holding the staple strip 13 against retrograde movement, any suitable spring-pressed dog 30 may be employed, this dog being by preference of the construction shown most clearly in Fig. 11,

with its front end received within the arched portion 28 of the feed dog 27.

By using the particular feed mechanism shown and described, the strip 13 is not ad vanced to any extent whatever, until the plunger 10 has returned approximately to its initial raised position. this being another advantageous feature.

Since excellent results may be obtained from the several details shown and described, such details may be followed if desired. I wish it understood however that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous minor changes may be made. Furthermore, although the feed mechanism and the staple straightening and holding means are preferably provided in the same machine, it will be understood that these features may be used individually if desired.

I claim:

1. A stapling device comprising a guideway, means for feeding a strip of preformed staples transversely of said guideway, a staple-cutting and driving plunger in said guideway, normally raised means in said guideway for holding each staple against bending while the operation of cutting the same from the staple strip is being performed, and means for automatically shifting said last named means into operative relation with the staple when said plunger is operated.

2. A stapling device comprising a guide way, means for feeding a strip of preformed staples transversely of said guideway, a staple cutting and driving plunger; in said guideway, normally retracted means in said guideway for holding each staple against bending while the operation of cutting the same from the staple strip is being performed, and yieldable connecting means between said holding means and said plunger for shifting the holding means into operative relation with the staple when the plunger is operated.

3. A stapling device comprising a guideway, means for feeding a strip of preformed staples transversely of said guideway, a staple cutting and driving plunger in said guideway, normally retracted means in said guideway for holding each staple against bending while' theoperation of cut ting the same from the staple strip is being performed a resilient arm carried by said holding means, and a shoulder on saidplunger releasably engaging said arm to move said holding means into operative relation with th staple when the plunger is operated.

way, means for feeding a strip of preformed staples transversely of said guideway, a staple cutting and driving plunger in said guideway, a slide in said guideway,

in contact with said plunger and having angular flanges adapted to hold each st ple against bending while the operation of cutting the same from the staple strip is being performed and means for operating said slide.

5. A stapling device comprising a guide way, means for feeding a. strip of preformed staples transversely of said guideway, a staple cutting and driving plunger in said guideway, a. slide in said guidevvay having parallel portions at opposite sides of said plunger for straightening the prongs of any bent staples prior to driving, and means for operating said slide.

' 6. A structure as specified in claim 4, the operating means for said slide comprising a resilient arm on one end of said slide, and a shoulder on said plunger releasably engaged with said arm.

7. A combination binder comprising a plunger and staple securing and straighten ing means adjacent said plunger and traveling throughout part of its journey with said plunger and parallel therewith.

8. In a strip staple machine, the combination with means for feeding a staple strip and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a member having means for engaging the foremost staple on said 4. A. stapling device comprising a guidestrip and holding the same against turning, and means for moving said member to carry said engaging means out of the path of move ment of said strip during the feeding operation and to thereafter bring the same into engagement with said foremost staple.

9. in a strip staple machine, the combination with means for feeding a staple strip and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a. member having means for engaging the foremost staple of said strip and holding the same against turning, said member being operated by said severing and driving means to move said engaging means out of the path of movement of said strip during the feedin operation and to thereafter move the same into i engagement with said foremost staple.

10. In a strip staple machine, the combination with. means for feeding a staple strip and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a member having means for engaging the foremost staple on said strip and holding the same against turning, said member being operated by said severing and driving means and hav ing a lost motion connection therewith to cause said engaging means to remain out of the path of movement of said strip during the feeding operation and thereafter to move into engagement with said foremost staple.

11. In a strip staple machine, the combination with means for feeding a staple strip and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a member having means for engaging the foremost staple on said strip and holding the same against turning, said member being guided for rectilinear movement transverse to the line of movement of the staple strip to carry said engaging means into and out of position so to engage said staple.

12. In a stapling machine, in combination, a staple strip carrying bar, a staple strip feeding means, and means adapted to be inserted from above the staple strip between the arms of two adjacent staples to straighten the same on the strip.

13. In a stapling machine, in combination, a staple strip carrying bar, a staple strip feeding means, and means operable from above the strip adapted to be inserted be tween the arms of two adjacent staples to straighten the same on the strip.

14. In a stapling machine, in combination, a staple strip carrying bar, a staple strip feeding means, and staple straightening means comprising fingers adapted to be inserted between the arms of two adjacent staples to straighten the same upon the strip.

15. in a stapling machine, in combination, a staple strip carrying bar, a staple strip feeding means, and staple straighten ing means comprising fingers mounted so as to be insertable between the arms of two adjacent staples from above the strip to straighten the staples on the strip.

16. A staple binder having a supporting bar for supporting a staple strip that is composed of individual staples connected in series, said bar having a cutting edge at one end, means for feeding said strip along said bar so that said strip will project beyond said cutting edge, means to limit such projection of the strip to correspond to a single staple and operative also to serve as a guide for one edge portion of said single staple, a plunger having a cutting edge to cooperate with the cutting edge of the bar and operative to be driven so as to sever said single staple and drive the same, auxiliary guide means for guiding the opposite edge portion of the said single staple, and means operated by the plunger for setting said auxiliary guide means to the guiding position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

RICHARD JACOB HOLZHAUSEN. 

